Overview
- The PET-CT uses a novel tracer that selectively binds aldosterone synthase, lighting up overproducing adrenal tissue within minutes.
- In first clinical use at UCLH, clinicians identified the adrenal source of excess aldosterone in all 17 patients.
- Findings were reported in a New England Journal of Medicine research letter, with development led by UCL’s Erik Arstad after more than a decade of tracer-chemistry work.
- The scan could simplify care by guiding adrenalectomy or targeted aldosterone-blocking medicines, potentially reducing reliance on invasive adrenal vein sampling.
- Researchers aim to gather evidence for regulatory approval and NHS adoption, noting that aldosterone-driven disease is a commonly missed contributor to high blood pressure.